Thoughts and Tidbits From the January 10 L.A. Kings Press Conference

Tim Leiweke – The guy is passionate. He wasn’t selling up there…well, not completely. You can tell he is a “fan”. Fault him if you must for things in the past but the Stanley Cup has purged many sins…until new sins are committed. He made it clear Dean has the green light to spend to the Cap. He wants to win it again. How many times did Tim talk about repeating?

“Hey Tim, you want some coffee?”

“We are repeating!!”

“Cool. Coffee?”

“RE-PEA-TING!”

Dean Lombardi – He wasn’t there. He was there but he wasn’t there. He had that, “I have work to do” look and displayed the mannerism of a guy who wanted to get back to that work.

Darryl Sutter – God I love him. You have to really listen to his answers. There is so much wisdom in what he states even when, at first blush, you want to ask, “what?” I don’t put any stock into the fact he previously coached during a lockout season. Like he said, it’s a “totally different game” today.

Luuuuuc – Didn’t say much, right?

The Media – Sigh. You know, it makes me sad listening to some of the questions asked and the ones that were not.

Team is being sold, right? No questions? Not relevant to Tim’s constant statements about building a contender year in and year out? I think that is a damn good question and highly probative. How are you planning and building for the future when you are selling the franchise?

With the cap dropping next season, isn’t there some concern to spending to the Cap in 2013 unless it is “rentals”?

How does the new CBA change Dean Lombardi’s long term planning (2 to 5 years), if at all? Especially as it relates to retention of our own players and signing other free agents who already have pre-new CBA long-term contracts? I would have loved to know if, under the current CBA, does he make the Mike Richards and Jeff Carter trades?

For Darryl Sutter, what did you do during the time off? I really wanted to know, damn it!

Quick and Bernier. Who is backing Quickie up? Any plans for Bernier, especially since he has asked for a trade?

* Update: Just saw a tweet by John Hoven. Of course, he asked the question (future insider). Lombardi stated he does not intend to trade Bernier right now – too valuable.

I have about 10 more. You know, real questions that should be asked by people who know the game.

Jim Fox and Patrick O’Neil – Good job, boys.

Greener looked intense didn’t he?

Stolly had that, “man, I got laid a lot” look about him…and I bet he did.

I just cannot reconcile (1) Lieweke’s attitude of contrition toward the fans with (2) Bob Miller saying how the Kings expect to sell out every game this year. It’s a small point, I don’t blame Bob at all, but it just struck me as tone-deaf to discuss the potential sell-outs after the entire league just got done selling out their souls to a few fuck-nut owners.

Maybe a sentence was missing, something about how even with all the grief and anguish the league forced their fans to endure, Kings fans are the most loyal because we always bought tickets even when the club was not the Champs and that Kings fans will lead the way as the game returns to the ice. Maybe that was intended but not stated, or something else was meant, but when everyone else is saying that they need to win the fans back it bordered on the Organ-I-Zation taking a few things for granted that, even if true, need to be described as a bit less definite.

Luc: class act, professional, and wow has he become a business person that I am proud represents the Kings.

Sutter: There may end up being a Presidential-style library in his name someday. Never seen a guy that uses so few words, speaks so generally, and yet has such a profound effect and impact by what he says. The “okey-doke” masks a fierce general that knows his troops do the bleeding, the kind that enemies fear and loyalists revere. Sorry for the rhyming.

Lombardi: Man, that guy does not like public speaking. He finished his prepared statement and checked out completely, into the “okay, that’s done” land of stress relief. That, or else he was honing his Columbo impression. He swings the biggest dick in the league, but only acts as cocky as a royal Eunich. Salute to Tuan Jim.

Greene: Caged lion.

Stoll: I would want to be Jarrett Stoll if I had to grow up.

The million dollars: Nice gesture, deserving recipients, Lieweke’s awkward self-obsessed answer to an awkward self-obsessed question was the low point of the entire affair.

Seemed to me the Kings are going to be in the right frame of mind, they already have their talking points well-honed and what we saw were the game-faces of seasoned fighters. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

I thought Bob Miller did a great job and it was great to hear his voice again. I can’t stand Tim Lie Weekly. He’s just an empty corporate suit. I liked the guys question about lowering ticket prices instead of donating $1 million. I thought Lie Weekly’s answer was weird. He just seems so fake to me and I feel like he’s ready to drop a reference to Farmer’s Field every time there is a camera around. All of his answers about how the Kings were reaching out to fans centered on the season ticket holders. I am not a STH but I am fine with them getting special privileges. It just seems like Lie Weekly only thinks about them.

Lombardi did seem like he just wanted to get back to work.

Sutter is awesome. I might have misheard but when Miller asked him about the similarities to coming into last season with 49 games to play and to this shortened season, I thought I heard him say “The similarities are pretty similar.” Whatever he said, he’s funny and a great coach.

Robitailleis classy as usual but seems to be a Lie Weekly in training. All the give away talk just seems patronizing. He’s doing his job though and doing it well.

LA media was terrible. Bobby you are right about that. Jim Hill’s hair is still the best though!

Didn’t need a press conference to say what they said. Just issue a press release about the charities. Waste of time for everyone.
Leiweke wasn’t there to apologize for anything. No plans to cut prices on anything. Enjoy the autograph sessions.
Horrible media questions. They haven’t thought about hockey for six months.

… Yep. It got to the point where all I could think was “Stop lying to us. If you want to donate something to charity, then go do it. Good for you. Just get the team healthy and fit and be ready when the bell rings.” And, the media were absolutely clueless, as always. Business as usual.

I think the Kings are ready for their ride into the NHl realm to defend the treasure. This from today about Drew Doughty:
Nichols_NHLPool A hungry Drew Doughty worked out w/jr team and trainer, weighs 205. Determined to have Norris-caliber season.